Sea turtles relocated from Mississippi to near Marco Island

SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles – displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico – into the waters of Gullivan Bay, south of Marco Island, on Thursday. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando.

Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando, releases one of five Kemp's Ridley sea turtles into Gullivan Bay Thursday south of Marco Island. SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the the bay. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Conklin. Lexey Swall/Staff

Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando, releases one of five Kemp's Ridley sea turtles into Gullivan Bay Thursday south of Marco Island. SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the the bay. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Conklin. Lexey Swall/Staff

SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the waters of Gullivan Bay, south of Marco Island, on Thursday. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando. Lexey Swall/Staff

SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the waters of Gullivan Bay, south of Marco Island. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando. Lexey Swall/Staff

SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the waters of Gullivan Bay, south of Marco Island. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando. Lexey Swall/Staff

SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the waters of Gullivan Bay, south of Marco Island. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando. Lexey Swall/Staff

Dan Conklin, center, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando, and Jim Kinsler, left, load up a boat with Kemp's Ridley turtles that will be released into Gullivan Bay Thursday south of Marco Island. SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the the bay. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Conklin. Lexey Swall/Staff

Brandon Donnelly, 10, from Connecticut, gets the chance to touch a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle at Calusa Island Marina in Goodland on Thursday. SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the waters of Gullivan Bay, south of Marco Island. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando. Lexey Swall/Staff

SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the waters of Gullivan Bay, south of Marco Island. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando. Lexey Swall/Staff

SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the waters of Gullivan Bay, south of Marco Island. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando. Lexey Swall/Staff

SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the waters of Gullivan Bay, south of Marco Island. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando. Lexey Swall/Staff

A Kemp's Ridley sea turtle makes its way through the water of Gullivan Bay Lexey Swall/Staff

Dan Conklin, aquarium supervisor at Seaworld Orlando, releases one of five Kemp's Ridley sea turtles into Gullivan Bay Thursday south of Marco Island. SeaWorld Orlando and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission relocated a total of seven endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles - displaced by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - into the the bay. The turtles were rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss., where they were being treated for injuries related to fishing hooks and lines. "These particular sea turtles are very strong, very fiesty. The research indicates Kemp's Ridleys of this size do live in this area," said Conklin. Lexey Swall/Staff